Prince Amukamara rebounds from tough first series

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Prince Amukamara did not let a shaky series get him down.

The second-year cornerback looked lost when the Giants' defense took the field for the first time. He was swallowed up by fullback Greg Jones on a run in his direction, misplaced Mike Thomas on a 29-yard catch on third-and-7 and was beaten by Cecil Shorts III on a fade in the left corner of the end zone for a touchdown.

Perhaps a rookie might have allowed that to get in his head, but Amukamara showed an ability to bounce back. On the second series, when the Jaguars tried an end-around run aimed at Amukamara, he fought off his block and poked the ball away from Shorts. Justin Tuck recovered it at the Jaguars' 29 to set up the Giants' first touchdown.

"I knew I wasn't going to play a lot, so if I would've ended on that play, gosh, it would've been a long flight home," Amukamara said. "I'm just glad I was able to make a play for the team."

That the Giants turned the fumble into points made everyone feel even better.

"We converted on that turnover and went down and got a touchdown," Eli Manning said. "Those are the types of things you do in the preseason that you want to carry over to the regular season."

Bennett emotional

Tight end Martellus Bennett caught a 12-yard touchdown pass from David Carr in the second quarter of the first preseason game. For a player in his fifth season, it should not have been an emotional experience. But for Bennett, it was a tear-jerker.

"It was very, very exciting," he said. "I almost cried after I scored because I've been through a lot over the last four years, ups and downs, and I was very unhappy with the situation I was in."

Bennett spent the last four seasons with the Cowboys, where he was overshadowed by Jason Witten. The outspoken Bennett has won over Giants fans with his outward distaste for all things Dallas, and if he continues to play as he did Friday night, he'll truly have their hearts.

"Everybody here has embraced me as a player and as a person,'' he said, "and I'm just trying to continue to grow and be a part of what they're doing."

Giant stepsWR Domenik Hixon was a surprise scratch with a sore hamstring. Ramses Barden started at receiver opposite Victor Cruz . . . Former Giants CB Aaron Ross started for the Jaguars. He didn't make any plays but did manage to pick up a penalty for an illegal hit to the back of Manning's helmet on a blitz . . . Veteran Keith Rivers started at LB in place of Michael Boley . . . Adrian Tracy's strip-sack in the second quarter led to a fumble that was recovered by Jason Pierre-Paul, who spent a little extra time on the field with the second unit.